Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman Risks 7 Years in Jail

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed two charges of corruption against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Yakubu Umar.

This was at the High Court of the  Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Friday.

A copy of the charge sheet seen by Channels Television showed that the EFCC is accusing Umar of asking for and receiving bribes in the discharge of his official duties.

In the first count, the EFCC accused the CCT Chairman of asking for N10 million from one Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo, sometime in 2012, in order to show him favour in a charge pending against him.

In the second count, Umar is charged with receiving N1.8 million from Taiwo, which was allegedly paid through Umar’s Personal Assistant, Alhaji Gambo Abdullahi.

The offences were allegedly committed in the discharge of Umar’s official duties and are contrary to Section 12 subsection 1a and b of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2003.

The case has yet to be assigned to a judge for hearing.

The offence carries a seven-year jail term with no option of fine.

Umar, who presided over the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki on charges of false assets declaration, was accused during the trial of soliciting and receiving a bribe in a case he was presiding over.

On April 27, 2016, during a CCT sitting hearing in the Saraki trial, one of the Senate President’s lawyers, Ajibola Oluyede filed a motion for the disqualification of Umar from the trial.

The motion was based on the allegation that Umar had allegedly obtained a bribe from Taiwo, a retired Customs official.

Taiwo had reportedly sent a petition to the EFCC in 2014, claiming that the CCT Chairman demanded a N10 million bribe from him.

The motion and the allegation had led to drama at the CCT with a visibly angry Umar denying the claim.

He went on to preside over the Senate President’s trial, eventually acquitting him of the charges of false assets declarations 14 months later.
(Channels TV).